Democratic map would hurt suburban GOP

SPRINGFIELD --- Senate Democrats unveiled the full details of their congressional map today and it shows three Republicans forced to run against Democrats and three open districts in the suburbs.

The map represents an attempt by Democrats to reverse GOP gains last year, when five new GOP congressmen were elected in Illinois for a net pickup of four seats that helped the party nationally retake the U.S. House.

The reapportionment of the state's congressional districts, mandated after the 2010 federal Census to reflect shifts in Illinois' population, is complicated this year because the state will lose one of its current 19 congressional districts.